Submitted by:  Alice Ogles



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The following article appears on USGenWeb through the gracious permission of:
Janet Tompkins- Editor
"Forest & People"
Louisiana Forestry Association
(318) 443-2558
Fax: (318) 443-1713
"WE'RE MINDING THE FOREST FOR YOU!"


Source: Forest & People 1959, Union Parish Library, Farmerville, Louisiana

Hopkins House by A. B. Smith

	Ours is an age when landmarks, victims of time and progress, grow more scarce.  
But Hopkins House at Marion, in North Union parish, coupled with its charming background 
and legend, retains the same air of unhurried living of past years.
According to local stories, Hopkins House is the site where the song "In the Gloaming" 
was written. With the passing years this song, tremendously popular at the turn of the 
century, has become firmly associated here and, if one believes the legend, stands as 
monument to a shattered romance.
	The story begins with the Reverend Elias George's moving to Marion in the middle 1800's. 
Evidently Reverend George's fortunes prospered because sometime during this period he built a 
striking house for his growing family.  The story includes the fact that he paid $3000 for a 
negro slave skilled as a carpenter to construct the house.
	To offset the lack of schools in the Marion area of that day, Reverend George imported 
tutors from New Orleans.  A Mrs. Harrison was selected to instruct the young Georges in their 
formal education and her daughter Ann, an accomplished musician came along to give them a 
cultural background.  It is this facet of the story that has given rise to the legend that 
endures today.
	In the course of the Harrison's stay in Marion eighteen-year old Ann was attracted to 
dashing Miles Goldsby, the gay blade of the Marion countryside.  Miles, Ann's senior by several 
years, did not measure up to Mrs. Harrison's ideal as a suitor, with the result that the young 
couple was closely chaperoned.  According to the story, on such occasions when Miles was calling, 
as soon as dusk began falling, the young people were required to come into the parlor and under 
Mrs. Harrison's watchful gaze.  This, says the story, caused Ann to write the music and words 
to a song, possibly in memory of some tender moment shared as she strolled with Miles in the 
gathering twilight.
	Evidently the romance was progressing, because Mrs. Harrison abruptly moved back to New 
Orleans. This effectively separated the enamoured couple for there is no record of their having 
seen each other again.  Miles eventually married and lived out his life in the Marion area.  Ann 
was not heard of again except, says the story, in the wake of the broken romance, to publish the 
song she had composed during her stay and courtship at Marion.
	However, Miss Mary Hopkins, the present owner of the house, has thoroughly researched 
the background of "In the Gloaming."  And with all its fascination, says Miss Mary, the legend 
just isn't true.  According to her finding, the song was written in the 1850's, true enough, and 
by Ann Harrison.  The error has resulted, she says in a very close similarity of names.  The 
young lady who lived in her house over a century ago was Ann Portesque Harrison.  The author of 
the song, Ann Fortusque Harrison, lived in England and after writing "In the Gloaming" married
and became Lady Arthur Hill.
	Since the brief stay of the Harrisons at Marion, Hopkins House has weathered the Civil 
War and has changed names over the years.  Always owned by succeeding members of the same family, 
The George name gave way to the Powells and finally, to Hopkins.  Miss Mary, without eyesight 
for the past several years, lives quietly among the beautiful antique furnishings with the 
housekeeper and companion Miss Deedie Hendrix.  The house is not open to the public.
	But regardless of whether or not the story is accurate that "In the Gloaming" was 
composed here, Hopkins House stands as sturdy reminder of the romantic past of Marion and North 
Louisiana.

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